The Department of Education (ED) describes verification as: "The process your school uses to confirm that the data reported on your FAFSA is accurate. Your school has the authority [by federal regulation] to contact you for documentation that supports income and other information that you reported."
In signing the FAFSA on paper or electronically, "you agree, if asked, to provide information that will verify the accuracy of your completed form. This information may include U.S. or state income tax forms that you filed are or are required to file." Approximately 30% of all students nationwide that apply for federal aid are selected for verification by the federal government. The laws that govern verification are federal laws and cannot be waived unless a student decides to not use federal aid.
♦ ♦ ♦ Verification Deadlines ♦ ♦ ♦
Verification Worksheet
IRS Tax Return Transcript
Note: During peak processing times (August and January), it may take up to four weeks to process verification materials. Therefore, students are strongly advised to submit their FAFSA early and respond to any requirements as soon as possible.
Verification is intended to improve the accuracy of the information submitted on the FAFSA, thereby, adding integrity to the Federal Student Aid programs.
Approximately 30% of all students are chosen to go through the verification process (true at all colleges and universities nationwide). Some students are chosen randomly while others are chosen due to discrepant information provided on the FAFSA. Some students are selected after they have received an award letter. It is not unusual for a student to go through the process several years in a row.
►►► Applicable for Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024
1. |
Completed 2023-2024 Verification Worksheet. |
2. |
Student's 2021 signed federal tax return OR federal tax transcript If you are self-employed or have partnership or S-Corp income, please also submit IRS Schedules 1, 2, 3, C, and E, if filed. ► If the student worked but did not file taxes, they must check the appropriate box on the verification worksheet and submit their W-2 statements from 2021. |
3. |
Parents' 2021 signed federal tax return OR federal tax transcript. If your parents are self-employed or have partnership or S-Corp income, please also submit IRS Schedules 1, 2, 3, C, and E, if filed. ► If the parent worked but did not file taxes, submit your parents’ W-2 statements from 2021 and request a tax return transcript from the IRS to confirm their non-filing status for 2021. If the IRS is unable to furnish the non-filing status letter, your parent must submit a signed statement attesting to this fact.
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4. |
Other Income Explanation (if applicable): Parents or students that have income listed on their tax return as "Other Income" must submit a statement or documentation explaining what the source of the income is (e.g.: is it income from work?). For example, gambling winnings or debt cancellations are often included under "Other Income"; the Financial Aid Office needs to be able to distinguish what type of income this is. |
►►► Applicable for Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024
1. |
Completed 2023-2024 Verification Worksheet. |
2. |
Student's 2021 signed federal tax return OR federal tax return transcript If you are self-employed or have partnership or S-Corp income, please also submit IRS Schedules 1, 2, 3, C, and E, if filed. ► If the student worked but did not file taxes: Submit your W-2 statements from 2021 and request a tax return transcript to confirm your non-filing status for 2021. If the IRS is unable to furnish the non-filing status letter, you must submit a signed statement attesting to this fact.
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3. |
Spouse's 2021signed federal tax return or federal tax transcript (if married) If your spouse is self-employed or have partnership or S-Corp income, please also submit IRS Schedules 1, 2, 3, C, and E, if filed. ► If the spouse worked but did not file taxes: Submit their W-2 statements from 2021 and request a tax return transcript to confirm their non-filing status for 2021. If the IRS is unable to furnish the non-filing status letter, your spouse must submit a signed statement attesting to this fact.
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4. |
Other Income Explanation (if applicable): Students that have income listed on their tax return as "Other Income" must submit a statement or documentation explaining what the source of the income is (e.g.: is it income from work?). For example, gambling winnings or debt cancellations are often included under "Other Income"; the Financial Aid Office needs to be able to distinguish what type of income this is. |
►►► Applicable for Fall 2022, Spring 2023, and Summer 2023
1. |
Completed 2022-2023 Verification Worksheet. |
2. |
Student's 2020 signed federal tax return OR federal tax transcript If you are self-employed or have partnership or S-Corp income, please also submit IRS Schedule C and/or E. ► If the student worked but did not file taxes, they must check the approproriate box on the verification worksheet and submit their W-2 statements from 2020. |
3. |
Parents' 2020 signed federal tax return OR federal tax transcript. If your parents are self-employed or have partnership or S-Corp income, please also submit IRS Schedule C and/or E. ► If the parent worked but did not file taxes, submit your parents’ W-2 statements from 2020 and request a tax return transcript from the IRS to confirm their non-filing status for 2020. If the IRS is unable to furnish the non-filing status letter, your parent must submit a signed statement attesting to this fact.
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4. |
Other Income Explanation (if applicable): Parents or students that have income listed on their tax return as "Other Income" must submit a statement or documentation explaining what the source of the income is (e.g.: is it income from work?). For example, gambling winnings or debt cancellations are often included under "Other Income"; the Financial Aid Office needs to be able to distinguish what type of income this is. |
►►► Applicable for Fall 2022, Spring 2023, and Summer 2023
1. |
Completed 2022-2023 verification worksheet. |
2. |
Student's 2020 signed federal tax return OR federal tax return transcript If you are self-employed or have partnership or S-Corp income, please also submit IRS Schedule C and/or E. ► If the student worked but did not file taxes: Submit your W-2 statements from 2020 and request a tax return transcript to confirm your non-filing status for 2020. If the IRS is unable to furnish the non-filing status letter, you must submit a signed statement attesting to this fact.
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3. |
Spouse's 2020 signed federal tax return or federal tax transcript (if married) If your spouse is self-employed or have partnership or S-Corp income, please also submit IRS Schedule C and/or E. ► If the spouse worked but did not file taxes: Submit their W-2 statements from 2018 and request a tax return transcript to confirm their non-filing status for 2020. If the IRS is unable to furnish the non-filing status letter, your spouse must submit a signed statement attesting to this fact.
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4. |
Other Income Explanation (if applicable): Students that have income listed on their tax return as "Other Income" must submit a statement or documentation explaining what the source of the income is (e.g.: is it income from work?). For example, gambling winnings or debt cancellations are often included under "Other Income"; the Financial Aid Office needs to be able to distinguish what type of income this is. |
Students will only receive paper notification if they have not responded to the electronic notifications, which may cause a delay in the processing of their aid. These notifications will instruct students to review their Banner Eligibility Requirements. Students should refer to the Check Requirements Using Banner guide for assistance.
Please wait to be contacted by the Financial Aid Office before submitting any verification documents. A notification on the Student Aid Report does not necessarily mean that Buffalo State will require verification documentation.
Students and/or parents may elect to make a correction to their processed FAFSA to link to the IRS instead of requesting an IRS Tax Return Transcript. To link to the IRS, students log into www.fafsa.gov and click on "Make FAFSA Corrections" to transfer IRS data into your FAFSA. Under the income sections for students and parents there are questions that enable the use of the IRS DRT.
Watch a video on how to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
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For students and parents granted a tax filing extension, submit IRS Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File a U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. You must also provide a copy of all your W-2 forms or, if self-employed, a signed statement with the amount of their AGI and their U.S. income taxes paid. These documents will replace the tax return transcript.
A small number of financial aid applicants will be required to complete the Statement of Educational Purpose Form. The US Department of Education selects which students must complete the statement and colleges and universities cannot disburse aid until the statement is received.
The Statement of Educational Purpose certifies the student's identity and attests that the student will only use federal student aid for educational purposes and for the cost of attending college during the specified academic year. Students will be notified by the Financial Aid Office if they must complete the Statement of Educational Purpose and they may download it through their Banner account. The form must be notarized or completed in-person at the Financial Aid Office. Students must present a valid, unexpired, government-issued photo identification such as a passport or driver's license.
The deadline to submit verification documents is dependent on the type of federal student aid the students is eligible to receive (see chart below). If the deadline is not met, the student becomes ineligible for that particular aid program. This cannot be appealed and is a federal requirement.
Federal Aid Program | Verification Deadline |
Direct Subsidized / Unsubsidized Loan |
The verification process must be completed before the student stops attending on a half-time (6.0 credits) basis in the academic year. |
Federal Pell Grant |
Student have up to 120 days after they stop attending in the academic year to complete verification to receive a Pell Grant, if they otherwise qualify. |
SEOG Grant |
The verification process must be completed before the student stops attending in the academic year and the student must also be eligible for a Pell grant. |
Federal Work-Study |
Students are not permitted to work if they have not complied with verification. |
Federal Parent PLUS or Graduate PLUS Loans |
The verification process must be completed before the student stops attending on a half-time, 6.0 credits, basis in the academic year. |
Once all the required documentation is received, an adviser will review the information and submit corrections to the federal processor as needed. Be advised that sometimes after the documentation is reviewed, it becomes clear that additional documents are needed. Therefore, students should check their Banner requirements frequently. Once the corrected FAFSA is received by Buffalo State, federal aid can be offered and/or disbursed to the student. During peak times (semester start-up), processing time can take 4 weeks to have aid offered. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to submit their FAFSA by March 1 to allow ample processing time for the following Fall or Spring semesters. During non-peak times, students that have submitted all documentation are typically reviewed within one to two weeks and aid offered accordingly.
No, verification must be completed first. The only exception is if a student is selected after federal aid has paid to their account; those funds will not be sent back to ED unless completion of verification necessitates it or the student fails to submit the required documents.
If you were selected because there was a clear error on your FAFSA, completing it more accurately in a subsequent year may prevent you from being selected again. There is no way to avoid being randomly selected. Using the IRS Data Retrieval can minimize the documents required if selected for verification. Individuals that use the data retrieval are typically not required to submit their federal tax return transcript.
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